Veteran Owned Business
Four Seasons Pet Salon LLC
Your Paws Our Passion®
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Keeping a healthy coat for your dog is important for several reasons and it just feels good to be clean. Some purposes include to prevent conditions including but not limited to skin irritations, dry flakey skin, skin infections, chronic ear and or eye infections, urine rashes, fleas and ticks, buildup of dirt and dead or damaged hair.
Putting your dog on a regiment creates a situation where he can develop a relationship with his groomer and the process becomes a part of his routine, so he knows what to expect, lessening his anxiety.
A bath is not just a bath, it is the most important part of the groom. Professionally trained groomers will understand this and know how to properly bath your dog with the best products for his skin and coat type and condition. She will know how to properly dry the skin and coat based on his skin and coat type and condition and will know what tools that should be used and how to use them for the bath and groom. Some questions you should ask every groomer before choosing them to care for your dog are as follows:
· Why and how did you become a dog groomer?
· How did you learn to groom dogs? Who trained you and for how long?
· What kind of products are you going to use on my dog and why?
· What tools are you going to use on my dog and why?
· What safety measures do you take during the grooming process?
· How many dogs do you groom a day?
· How much time will my dog spend with you and how much time will be spent in a kennel while in your care?
· How will you dry my dog?
· Will my dog come in contact with other dogs while in your care; if so, how do you ensure my dog's safety?
The number of weeks between each appointment is dependent on various factors such as the breed, age and condition of the skin and coat. Additionally, it is dependent on the activity level, lifestyle and desired haircut and hair length of the dog. My recommendation for most dogs is to be bathed every three to four weeks and groomed every four to six weeks. If you are keeping your dog’s hair length shorter, bathing every three weeks and grooms every six weeks, every other appointment, is my recommendation.
When you have your dog groomed with long periods in between appointments costs for that service may be higher, even significantly higher, for reasons such as the condition of the coat and temperament. Long periods between baths and grooms may exacerbate temperament issues, which causes the process to take longer and create more stress on the dog.
Why choose to have your dog professionally bathed or groomed?
TO PLUCK OR NOT TO PLUCK Groomer to Groomer Magazine; July 2024 edition Article by Dr. Cliff Faver Ear infections, a prevalent issue in the world of dogs, is a topic of utmost importance. Did you know that 25% of the patients seen in veterinary clinics are for ear infections? Groomers, veterinarians and owners all grapple with them, often leading to hefty bills. But why are they so challenging to deal with? The first hurdle we face is the unique structure of a dog’s ear. It’s like a funnel that collects dirt, debris and water, and then it takes a 90-degree turn before going deep into a bony cave. This makes it incredibly hard to reach the source of the problem if foreign material or infection gets down in the canal. The dog’s only defense is to shake their head vigorously, hoping to dislodge the issue. However, this method is often ineffective and can lead to more serious problems like a hematoma of the ear. Many of the issues associated with ears are hard for a groomer to observe because they occur in the ear canal. Ear powder deep in the ear is one of these conditions that often can only be observed with an otoscope. Ear powder was never designed to be put directly in the ear (despite what is said on some labels). It is not an epilation powder and doesn’t dry the ear, as many believe. When it gets deep in the ear, it mixes with the oils and moisture of the ear and makes a lovely rue or gravy, which is impossible for the dog to shake out. It is not uncommon for a veterinarian to remove a half-inch to an inch of debris after this powder is put in the ear. Unfortunately, this must be done under anesthesia and at an expense owners are not thrilled with. Foreign bodies are a common problem for veterinarians. Foxtails or grass awns are probably the most common in my practice. These are barbed, and once they start down an ear canal, they don’t back out and are not easily dislodged by a dog shaking its head. They often progress to the point where they puncture the eardrum, leading to an infection of the middle ear. Ticks and mites are also common inhabitants of the ears. Most people have heard of or seen mites in pets’ ears but are not as familiar with ticks deep in the ear canals. A specific type of tick that is actually common in cattle can and will inhabit the ear of the dog. On one occasion, I removed 14 of these ticks from one dog’s ear, all the size of a raisin. As groomers you will get the opportunity to see many of these conditions, most of which are not advised that you treat or recommend any medication for, because without being able to observe the eardrum, you cannot determine the safety of a product relative to if it might enter the middle ear. Ear plucking, on the other hand (as long as you are just using your fingers), is in the realm of routine care and can and should be done as a groomer as long as there is no infection…in this veterinarian’s opinion. Dr. Cliff Faver graduated with a BS in Biology/BA in Chemistry before getting a Veterinary degree in 1987. He is the past owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona and now the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products, teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program, and speaks internationally on hair and skin. His passion is to merge groomers and veterinarians to aid in helping and healing pets. He is also a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, Board member with Burbank Kennel Club, and has served on Novartis Lead Committee, Hill’s International Global Veterinary Board, and a Veterinary Management Group.
A DEEPER DIVE INTO DEFINING THE DOUBLE COAT Groomer To Groomer Magazine, March 2024 edition Article by Jennifer Bishop Jenkins There are an estimated 900 million dogs in the world and most are double coated. Approximately 80%1 live without a home or owners and are called free ranging.2 They are all short- or medium-length double coats, and a large number of pet dogs are also double coated. All their fellow canids in the wild, such as foxes, coyotes and wolves, have a medium-length double coat, which is called the “natural” or “normal” category of canine coats by veterinary dermatology texts.3
WHAT MAKES A GOOD GROOMER Groomer To Groomer Magazine, August 2023 edition Article by Daryl Conner Photos by Animal Photography What is it that makes a groomer good at what they do? I pondered this question recently when I was referring a customer whom we could not help to another stylist in our area—someone I considered good at what they do. My curiosity led me to ask other groomers what they thought made for a successful pet styling business, and here is what we came up with!